Devon's UKIP MEP William Dartmouth has called for a George Medal for bravery to be awarded to the pensioner who fought and killed a burglar in his home last week.

Richard Osborn-Brooks, 78, stabbed the burglar with a screwdriver at his London home. The intruder later died and Mr Osborn-Brooks was arrested on suspicion of murder but was released without charge two days later. The pensioner's wife, who has dementia, was with him in the property when burglar Henry Vincent, 37, broke in.

Now Lord Dartmouth, Princess Diana's stepbrother, has called for him to be awarded a George Medal, which is traditionally given to civilians for acts of bravery.

William Legge, 10th Earl of Dartmouth, the UKIP MEP for the South West

Lord Dartmouth, the MEP for the South West, said: "What could be braver than a 78-year-old man defending his wife and his home from two burglars, who we now know were career criminals, armed with only a screwdriver.

"Mr Osborn in the heat of the struggle obviously did not mean to inflict a fatal wound on one of the intruders. he was only defending himself, home and wife.

"I am sure that the public who were outraged at the attack, would welcome Mr Osborn-Brooks' bravery being recognised."

The controversial remarks come as tensions mount around the Osborn-Brooks' Hither Green home in east London after members of Henry Vincent's family erected a memorial to him.

The flowers have been torn down for a fourth time in three days and police face increasing pressure to 'bulldoze' the shrine for good.

The 'battle of the bouquets' is reported to be spiralling out of control after a turf war broke out between locals and the family of career criminal Vincent.

Dartmouth is the eldest son of the 9th Earl of Dartmouth and Raine McCorquodale, the daughter of romantic novelist Dame Barbara Cartland and a stepbrother of Diana, Princess of Wales after his mother's second marriage to the 8th Earl Spencer.